---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Please do not be cynical. I hate cynicism…"
description: "\"“Please do not be cynical. I hate cynicism – it's my least favorite quality, and it doesn't lead anywhere. Nobody in life gets exactly what they though..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a49/conan-o-brien-540_amazing-things_please-do-not-be-cynical-i-hate-cynicism_1426586.jpg"
---

#  Please do not be cynical. I hate cynicism – it's my least…

![“Please do not be cynical. I hate cynicism – it's my least favorite quality, and it doesn't lead anywhere. Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get. But if you work really hard and you're kind, amazing things will happen.” quote by Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a49/conan-o-brien-540_amazing-things_please-do-not-be-cynical-i-hate-cynicism_1426586.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a49/conan-o-brien-540_amazing-things_please-do-not-be-cynical-i-hate-cynicism_1426586.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a49/conan-o-brien-540_amazing-things_please-do-not-be-cynical-i-hate-cynicism_1426586.jpg)

> ““Please do not be cynical. I hate cynicism – it's my least favorite quality, and it doesn't lead anywhere. Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get. But if you work really hard and you're kind, amazing things will happen.””

[Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Hard work and kindness create unexpected positive outcomes, while cynicism hinders progress.

**In simple terms:** Kindness and effort lead to success, cynicism blocks it.

Key Takeaway

Be kind and work hard.

Themes

effort kindness optimism cynicism

Mood

hopeful reflective

Type

motivational philosophical

When to use this quote

- career advancement
- personal relationships
- community projects
- overcoming negativity

Key Concepts

psychology motivation ethics

Questions to Reflect On

- How does kindness change your results?
- What role does cynicism play in your life?

A Different Perspective

Cynicism can be a coping mechanism for disappointment.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Amazing things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amazing-things/) [Cynical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cynical/) [Cynical Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cynical-hate-3558351/) [Cynicism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cynicism/) [Cynicism Favorite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cynicism-favorite-5066472/) [Exactly Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exactly-thought-1240640/) [Hate Cynicism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate-cynicism-3513681/) [Pessimism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pessimism/)

## Related quotes

> [“All I ask of you is one thing: please don’t be cynical. I hate cynicism — it’s my least favorite quality and it doesn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/all-i-ask-of-you-is-one-thing-please-don-t-be-cynical-i-hate-cynicism/)

[Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/)

> [All I ask is one thing, and I’m asking this particularly of young people: please don’t be cynical. I hate cynicism, for the record,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/all-i-ask-is-one-thing-and-i-m-asking-this-particularly-of-young/)

[Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/)

> [I hate cynicism - it's my least favorite quality and it doesn't lead anywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/i-hate-cynicism-it-s-my-least-favorite-quality-and-it-doesn-t-lead/)

[Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/)

> [I think I hate cynicism more than anything else. It's the curse of our age, and I want to avoid it at all costs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-auster/i-think-i-hate-cynicism-more-than-anything-else-it-s-the-curse-of-our/)

[Paul Auster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-auster/)

> [“It was exactly as he’d thought it would be, like the first time and the millionth time all at once, like being wide awake,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-e-smith/it-was-exactly-as-he-d-thought-it-would-be-like-the-first-time-and/)

[Jennifer E. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-e-smith/)

> [Noone knows exactly where thought comes from, but it can be said that thought comes from the same place as whatever it is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carlson/noone-knows-exactly-where-thought-comes-from-but-it-can-be-said-that/)

[Richard Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carlson/)

> [No one knows exactly where thought comes from, but it can be said that thought comes from the same place as whatever it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carlson/no-one-knows-exactly-where-thought-comes-from-but-it-can-be-said-that/)

[Richard Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carlson/)

> [Some period of time later you look up and say, "That concern was right on the mark; it happened exactly as I thought it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitchell-baker/some-period-of-time-later-you-look-up-and-say-that-concern-was-right/)

[Mitchell Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitchell-baker/)

> [“Exactly. You thought. That’s where fear begins. In your head.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-raabe/exactly-you-thought-that-s-where-fear-begins-in-your-head/)

[Melanie Raabe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-raabe/)

> [I hate cynicism. I wipe it from me. I don't like cynical people. I don't like cynical movies. Cynicism is very easy. You don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-gondry/i-hate-cynicism-i-wipe-it-from-me-i-don-t-like-cynical-people-i-don-t/)

[Michel Gondry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-gondry/)

> [I hate cynicism a great deal worse than I do the devil; unless perhaps the two were the same thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-louis-stevenson/i-hate-cynicism-a-great-deal-worse-than-i-do-the-devil-unless-perhaps/)

[Robert Louis Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-louis-stevenson/)

> [Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get. But if you work really hard and you're kind, amazing things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/nobody-in-life-gets-exactly-what-they-thought-they-were-going-to-get/)

[Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/)

> [Don't be cynical; it leads nowhere. If you work hard, and are kind, amazing things will happen to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/don-t-be-cynical-it-leads-nowhere-if-you-work-hard-and-are-kind/)

[Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/)

> [“Work hard and be kind and amazing things will happen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/work-hard-and-be-kind-and-amazing-things-will-happen/)

[Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/)

> [Work hard, be kind, and amazing things will happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/work-hard-be-kind-and-amazing-things-will-happen/)

[Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/)

## More by Conan O'Brien

> [A federal court has ruled that the U.S. Postal Service must reduce its stamp prices. The change in stamp prices is expected to affect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/a-federal-court-has-ruled-that-the-u-s-postal-service-must-reduce-its/)

[Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/)

> [NBC is making a movie about Martha Stewart that will cover the recent stock scandal. They are thinking of calling it 'The Road To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/nbc-is-making-a-movie-about-martha-stewart-that-will-cover-the-recent/)

[Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/)

> [People should say 'no comment' more often. No comment! I love no comment. Let's have more no comment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/people-should-say-no-comment-more-often-no-comment-i-love-no-comment/)

[Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/)

> [A new study reveals that one-third of babies in the U.S. have used a smartphone. Yeah, and one-third of babies in China have MADE…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/a-new-study-reveals-that-one-third-of-babies-in-the-u-s-have-used-a/)

[Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/)

> [Martha Stewart showed up at Manhattan FBI Headquarters to have her finger prints taken and pose for a mug shot. Then Martha explained how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/martha-stewart-showed-up-at-manhattan-fbi-headquarters-to-have-her/)

[Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/)

> [The big story today, Barack Obama was accused of insulting Sarah Palin when he criticized Republican policies by saying, you can put lipstick on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/the-big-story-today-barack-obama-was-accused-of-insulting-sarah-palin/)

[Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/)

> [LEGO has announced that they are shutting down their U.S. factory and moving it to Canada. LEGO employees say it's their fault because they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/lego-has-announced-that-they-are-shutting-down-their-u-s-factory-and/)

[Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/)

> [A new survey reveals that women would rather give up sex than give up the remote control for the TV. Men, on the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/a-new-survey-reveals-that-women-would-rather-give-up-sex-than-give-up/)

[Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/)

> [Yesterday the DEA raided several NFL teams suspected of giving prescription painkillers to their players. In its defense, the New York Jets' doctor said,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/yesterday-the-dea-raided-several-nfl-teams-suspected-of-giving/)

[Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/)

> [President Obama gave a speech about healthcare tonight, and yesterday he gave a pep talk to students. He told them that in order to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/president-obama-gave-a-speech-about-healthcare-tonight-and-yesterday/)

[Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/)

> [The first thing men notice about a woman is her eyes. Then, when her eyes aren't looking, they notice her breasts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/the-first-thing-men-notice-about-a-woman-is-her-eyes-then-when-her/)

[Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/)

> [“Disappointment leads to clarity, which leads to conviction and true originality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/disappointment-leads-to-clarity-which-leads-to-conviction-and-true/)

[Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/)

> [John Travolta said he sometimes lets his friends take control of his airplane even though they don't know what they're doing. Then Travolta said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/john-travolta-said-he-sometimes-lets-his-friends-take-control-of-his/)

[Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/)

> [President Obama filled in as the coach of his daughter Sasha's basketball team. Sasha evidently listened to her Dad, because all she did was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/president-obama-filled-in-as-the-coach-of-his-daughter-sasha-s/)

[Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/)

> [President Obama and Vladimir Putin are both in China attending the same economic summit. Obama saw Putin and said, 'After those midterms, it's nice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/president-obama-and-vladimir-putin-are-both-in-china-attending-the/)

[Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/)

[Explore all 489 Conan O'Brien quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/)

## More Amazing things quotes

> [I don't own designer clothes, or a sports car, or a huge house, but I am seeing the world, experiencing amazing things, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roz-savage/i-don-t-own-designer-clothes-or-a-sports-car-or-a-huge-house-but-i-am/)

[Roz Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roz-savage/)

> [It's amazing to see things that are suggested in the book fully developed and so brilliantly realized through the artistry of the designers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/it-s-amazing-to-see-things-that-are-suggested-in-the-book-fully/)

[Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/)

> [We became Homo sapiens not that long ago, from the scientific perspective, and we've retained a lot of our beast nature. We've done all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangechi-mutu/we-became-homo-sapiens-not-that-long-ago-from-the-scientific/)

[Wangechi Mutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangechi-mutu/)

> [The amazing thing is that we live our lives with the hope that things will go right, that things will happen. And all along…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurel-nakadate/the-amazing-thing-is-that-we-live-our-lives-with-the-hope-that-things/)

[Laurel Nakadate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurel-nakadate/)

> [I think the most miraculous thing is learning. I get out of the way and let the students learn. Then you get to watch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/i-think-the-most-miraculous-thing-is-learning-i-get-out-of-the-way/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [And if the mind thinks with a believing attitude one can do amazing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/and-if-the-mind-thinks-with-a-believing-attitude-one-can-do-amazing/)

[Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/)

> [So crazy to think that we have only known each other 2 years. its been so amazing and we have got to do so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/one-direction/so-crazy-to-think-that-we-have-only-known-each-other-2-years-its-been/)

[One Direction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/one-direction/)

> [When you're true to who you are, amazing things happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-norville/when-you-re-true-to-who-you-are-amazing-things-happen/)

[Deborah Norville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-norville/)

> [I always see people tweeting about these crazy amazing things their boyfriend or girlfriend did for them. You shouldn't have to constantly be trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-prokop/i-always-see-people-tweeting-about-these-crazy-amazing-things-their/)

[Matt Prokop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-prokop/)

> [We can sit and worry about what's going to happen to us two weeks from now. I'd rather focus on the amazing things happening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-degeneres/we-can-sit-and-worry-about-what-s-going-to-happen-to-us-two-weeks/)

[Ellen DeGeneres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-degeneres/)

> [I think Li Na and some other Chinese ladies have done so many amazing things for Asian tennis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kei-nishikori/i-think-li-na-and-some-other-chinese-ladies-have-done-so-many-amazing/)

[Kei Nishikori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kei-nishikori/)

> [I've had to make time to really explore all the amazing things that are out and try to understand the history of how fashion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-jackson/i-ve-had-to-make-time-to-really-explore-all-the-amazing-things-that/)

[Christopher Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-jackson/)

> [We thought we completely understood bubbles when we were kids. But we didn't. Bubbles are these amazing things. It's just that people aren't paying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-noddy/we-thought-we-completely-understood-bubbles-when-we-were-kids-but-we/)

[Tom Noddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-noddy/)

> [Captaining your country, going out at Wembley, captaining Arsenal to 10 trophies, playing your first game - they're all amazing things. But, phew, saving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-adams/captaining-your-country-going-out-at-wembley-captaining-arsenal-to-10/)

[Tony Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-adams/)

> [There are always groups on campus that are doing amazing things. I know when I was in college, I was a student at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/opal-tometi/there-are-always-groups-on-campus-that-are-doing-amazing-things-i/)

[Opal Tometi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/opal-tometi/)

[Browse all 498 Amazing things quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amazing-things/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Please do not be cynical. I hate cynicism – it's my least favorite quality, and it doesn't lead anywhere. Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get. But if you work really hard and you're kind, amazing things will happen.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Conan O'Brien"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/please-do-not-be-cynical-i-hate-cynicism-it-s-my-least-favorite/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Amazing things"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/please-do-not-be-cynical-i-hate-cynicism-it-s-my-least-favorite/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a49/conan-o-brien-540_amazing-things_please-do-not-be-cynical-i-hate-cynicism_1426586.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a49/conan-o-brien-540_amazing-things_please-do-not-be-cynical-i-hate-cynicism_1426586.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a49/conan-o-brien-540_amazing-things_please-do-not-be-cynical-i-hate-cynicism_1426586.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Please do not be cynical. I hate cynicism – it's my least favorite quality, and it doesn't lead anywhere…” — Conan O'Brien",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Conan O'Brien",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Please do not be cynical. I...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/please-do-not-be-cynical-i-hate-cynicism-it-s-my-least-favorite/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/please-do-not-be-cynical-i-hate-cynicism-it-s-my-least-favorite/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
